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Long haul flight essentials!

Being from Australia and living in the UK I've done my fair share of long haul flights. At 25 hours from London to Aus, that's a hardcore 50 hour round trip! Spending so much time in the air has taught me exactly what to take on board in order to maximise comfort and ensure that I don't scare off whoever is meeting me at the other end.

If you're going on a short flight, five hours or less then you don't really need to worry about what to take on board with you. As long as you've got a good book, a snack and a bottle of water you're set! But if your flight time is six hours or more you're going to need a plan - unless getting lizard skin and allowing general hygiene to fall by the wayside is a non issue for you... in that case, crack on! But I can't stand the feeling of unclean and dry skin, it makes me feel so gross and uncomfortable. As I'm sure you already know skin dries out like a frog in the desert when you're at such high altitude and I don't know about you but I find it extremely nauseating being confined to a giant metal tube with hundreds of other humans whose germ filled breath lingers in the stuffy air - air which survival instinct leaves you with no other choice but to breathe in. By the second half of the flight I may as well have swallowed a fermented egg and rolled around in feaces because that's what I feel like. To save yourself from the clutches of premature ageing and that icky unclean feeling, planning is essential!

Here's my list of absolute essentials for your flight - remember all liquids must be 100ml or less in order to take them on board with you.

General;

A good book.

Crossword book/magazine.

Pen.

Colouring in book. Not essential but a surprisingly entertaining way to pass time! you'll obviously need colouring pens too.

Headphones. The big ear muff kind. They block out noise far more efficiently which is a godsend when you're sat near a screaming child and/or a loud snorer.

Eye mask.

Ear plugs. To block out that screaming child while you're trying to sleep!

Healthy snacks. Such as nuts and rye crackers - sugary and salty snacks like chocolate, sweets and crisps will only make you feel bloated and disgusting.

A large fairly thick shawl. It gets really cold up there so this is handy to use as a throw.

A travel pillow. I like the micro bead ones, they're super comfy.

Socks. It's cold up there! you can kill two birds with one stone here and buy compression socks - not only will they keep your tootsies warm but they aid blood circulation too.

Chewing gum. An absolute saviour! because by the time you get to your destination even brushing your teeth isn't enough. It's also handy to have during take off as I find chewing gum helps with ear popping.

Other Flight tips;

Book a window seat if you can. It's much more comfy for sleeping. Although less convenient for going to the toilet... but I'd sacrifice toileting needs for sleep any day!

Fill out your landing card before you land. When I first began travelling I remember being caught up frustrated and flustered in customs filling out a landing card - on numerous occasions! I learnt very quickly to fill it out on the plane.

Keep your blood flowing. I've heard far too many horror stories involving blood clots so whenever you get the chance be sure to get up and walk a few laps of the plane - strech your muscles while you're up too. When you do find yourself confined to your seat, wiggle your toes to get the blood flowing and be sure to shift position frequently.

Plan your final loo trip. If you want to freshen up before you land be sure to do so at least an hour, minimum half an hour prior to landing otherwise the queue is enormous. When there's no one waiting you can take all the time you need to ensure your beauty and hygiene is on point - these things can't be rushed, am I right?!

Happy flying friends! I hope this was helpful. Any questions, just ask - you can ask me anything. If there's any long haul flight essentials I've missed please comment them below, I'd love to know which products/items you absolutely cannot fly without!

If you’re reading this I can only assume you’ve taken the first step and decided to begin, so well done. Now you need to get the ball rolling on that blog – but you have no idea where to start right?! That’s where this post comes in. Below is an in depth guide detailing everything […]

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Hi! I’m Megz. An Aussie girl who’s travelled the world and wants to help transform your experiences abroad.

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